SDGA Club Meetings - Check Here for Current Schedule

[jshrack]

As a Grammar Nazi, I will point out that 'chair' is a verb.
It's definition is: to preside over something, often a meeting.
Anyone can chair but I agree it should be done by a board member.
I also contest that it should be done by a 'neutral' board member.

As for the other topic, I agree with Sean. Couldn't have said it better.

[Gordy #21004]

[QUOTE=Yoduh
It also seems like so close to an election if a board member spot was being vacated that the club would have the spot held up for an election. Also I do not like the policy the board adopted in the first place.

The charter was adopted unanimously by 36 Club members at the first nominations meeting in December, 2008. The Club leadership at that time voluntarily turned over any controlling interest it had in Club to open the way for a broad-based Club leadership core. The current structure was born there and the first slate of Club officers was elected and inaugurated on its heels.

[Yoduh]

SO we need to address this issue at tonight's meeting. Too bad I can't make it as I am in the Bay area right now. Hopefully other clubbies (wait am I not supposed to use this word?) will pick up the torch and run with it.

[Parks]

I also can't make tonight due to school, which sucks.

[Wobbly Bob]

The next Open Member meeting of the Spokane Disc Golf Association will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 at 7:00 pm. The location has not yet been determined but will be posted here ASAP.

This meeting will have time set aside specifically for the Candidates to address the Membership.

[jshrack]

I would like express my frustration that that member issues (New/Old business) were not heard at last night's meeting.

I know this is NOT an meeting but I would like to address a few items.

1. Our charter has very ambiguous language which needs to be amended.
a. The grammar and tense should be consistent throughout.
b. Our Board description and responsibilities might be clarified.
c. Our charter amendment process should be discussed.
d. Our mission statement could include our intent rather than just our past.
e. The term 'vacated' needs to be addressed.

2. We have also been talking about Practice Baskets at both courses. Many suggestions have been made and set on the back burner... will we be waiting 6 more weeks before we can even address this discussion?

[Wobbly Bob]

Originally Posted by jshrack

I would like express my frustration that that member issues (New/Old business) were not heard at last night's meeting.

I know this is NOT an meeting but I would like to address a few items.

1. Our charter has very ambiguous language which needs to be amended.
a. The grammar and tense should be consistent throughout.
b. Our Board description and responsibilities might be clarified.
c. Our charter amendment process should be discussed.
d. Our mission statement could include our intent rather than just our past.
e. The term 'vacated' needs to be addressed.

2. We have also been talking about Practice Baskets at both courses. Many suggestions have been made and set on the back burner... will we be waiting 6 more weeks before we can even address this discussion?

The agenda that Jeff proposed failed to have times assigned to each item. The main reason we had the meeting was to address nominations for the upcoming election. I think we spent less than 10 minutes on nominations.

[Sky Pilot]

Good point Bob, I'm going to make better estimations of allowances for time at our next meeting - including how long to allow the candidates to speak. Also, I want to minimize the need for any unnecessary business at our next meeting.

As I recall the only board meeting I've been to that had any time limitations imposed was at the January voting meeting where the candidates were allowed 2 minutes to present their visions a ideas for the office they were running for.

I had the members present approve a 2 hour duration for the meeting at the beginning so that it wouldn't (or couldn't with out an official extension) go over-long. In addition:I presented (for the first time) an actual Order of Business that the club approved at the onset of the meeting, and I gave a copy to all 11 members that attended. In this way anyone that is not speaking in turn and to the point that we are on was out of order. This meeting wasn't unruly or disorganized as previous ones had been. It went very smoothly and the members all raised their hands and asked the Chair for permission to speak. The only problem was that there wasn't enough time for new business.

Sky Pilot
Distance Measurer

[Gordy #21004]

The first quarter of the meeting was devoted to discussion of the role of the Sgt. at Arms. That was eventually tabled and left to the Board and the Sgt. volunteers meeting in the near future to work out some arrangements to streamline order at the meetings. I don't think there was much support for adopting the text of Robert's Rules, but rather to identify some key points to adhere to. The Board and the volunteers agreed to try to have these key points in place for adoption at the next Club meeting....The next quarter of the meeting was spent working through a long Christmas list of everything the Grant Committee could think of in the course of the month since the last meeting. It sounded like the majority could see applying for funds to purchase materials to shore up eroded areas and build stairs; not so much support for getting funds to pay volunteers to do things because it cuts into how much materials you could get. I don't know if it was new or old business but it pretty much ate up all the time for that. The officers reports went quickly with a few questions popping in along the way. The nominations were also quick, the question being whether a nomination needs a second or not. It does need to be accepted by the nominee...... Probably half the people sat around for another 30 minutes and got better acquainted.

[Burge]

Originally Posted by Gordy #21004

to pay volunteers

You lost me at this oxymoron. Isn't the point of a 'volunteer' is that you don't have to pay them? I've done a lot of volunteering for a multitude of organizations and I have never gotten paid.... Am I missing something?

[LJ Jubner]

Originally Posted by Burge

You lost me at this oxymoron. Isn't the point of a 'volunteer' is that you don't have to pay them? I've done a lot of volunteering for a multitude of organizations and I have never gotten paid.... Am I missing something?

You could be!

I think Gordy's talking about uber volunteers.

I do think we need to start thinking about how to make our sport more professional looking. The old adage applies here
"Speed costs money, How fast do you want to go"?

My point is Having some paid positions is not such a bad idea. The pDGA already does it so why shouldn't we follow their example. It would be great if an organization/series could find and RATIONALIZE a decent weekend wage.

Think of it this way
Fri 4 hrs from 1-5 in the afternoon,
This person would be the check in/PP distributor
any and all promotions would be offered by this same person
Sat and Sun 8 hrs each day check cards, spot, run promotions, General support kinda thing.

If we could attach a wage of say $8/hr or $160 for the weekend?

Back to the subject;Club meetings
Here are two suggestions

For the Planners
First have deadline for the next meetings agenda 2 weeks prior to it and then publish it. this allows planners the chance to know they will be on the agenda.


For the idea guy
Have all members sign in to meeting
On that same sheet have anyone with new business note their request for time.
As meeting starts Sec then reads each request. At that point the steward decides based on need and or constraints which requests will be allotted time either at that meeting or tabled till the next. This then becomes the new business section.

By allowing requests and then deciding publicly this would at least give the idea guy the feeling he was being heard. It also would encourage further participation down the road.

[Wobbly Bob]

Just so everyone is on the same page, the SDGA will not be paying volunteers for doing any volunteer work. This includes uber volunteers.

[Gordy #21004]

Originally Posted by Burge

You lost me at this oxymoron. Isn't the point of a 'volunteer' is that you don't have to pay them? I've done a lot of volunteering for a multitude of organizations and I have never gotten paid.... Am I missing something?

Come out to 4-mound on Sunday and volunteer some timbers for use at Downriver. They're cut and stacked and ready to go.

[Yoduh]

The grant allows for volunteers to be paid for their work. So if these workers were paid than they would be paid for by the government, not the club. I believe the amount is $10 and some change.

[Sky Pilot]

Originally Posted by jshrack

As a Grammar Nazi, I will point out that 'chair' is a verb.
It's definition is: to preside over something, often a meeting.
Anyone can chair but I agree it should be done by a board member.
I also contest that it should be done by a 'neutral' board member.

As for the other topic, I agree with Sean. Couldn't have said it better.

Dictionary.com
chair   
[chair] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a seat, esp. for one person, usually having four legs for support and a rest for the back and often having rests for the arms.
2.
something that serves as a chair or supports like a chair: The two men clasped hands to make a chair for their injured companion.
3.
a seat of office or authority.
4.
a position of authority, as of a judge, professor, etc.
5.
the person occupying a seat of office, esp. the chairperson of a meeting: The speaker addressed the chair.
6.
(in an orchestra) the position of a player, assigned by rank; desk: first clarinet chair.
7.
the chair, Informal . electric chair.
8.
chairlift.
9.
sedan chair.
10.
(in reinforced-concrete construction) a device for maintaining the position of reinforcing rods or strands during the pouring operation.
11.
a glassmaker's bench having extended arms on which a blowpipe is rolled in shaping glass.
12.
British Railroads . a metal block for supporting a rail and securing it to a crosstie or the like.
–verb (used with object)
13.
to place or seat in a chair.
14.
to install in office.
15.
to preside over; act as chairperson of: to chair a committee.
16.
British . to carry (a hero or victor) aloft in triumph.
–verb (used without object)
17.
to preside over a meeting, committee, etc.
—Idioms
18.
get the chair, to be sentenced to die in the electric chair.
19.
take the chair,
a.
to begin or open a meeting.
b.
to preside at a meeting; act as chairperson.

[Burge]

Justin raises a most important point: the charter. I understand the situation by which the charter was adopted, but if the document is examined from the viewpoint of its purpose and function (its long-term function), then it needs to be overhauled. It may be seen by board members as 'good enough' and not deemed a top priority, but a charter needs to be highly specific for it to serve its purpose of, not only providing reference to procedure and responsibility, but guiding the intent and maintaining the focus of the club. The time spent rooting out all of the possible 'if/then' situations and containing them within the language of the charter is time saved from future debates and confusion. The club would do well to have the charter reviewed by a lawyer or someone familiar with drafting corporate charters and by-laws. Counsel pro bono might take a few phone calls, but this is something that could be made easier if the club re-invented itself as an official NPO.

In essence, the SDGA is already non-profit, but being registered as a 501(c)(7) would open the door for more funding and benefits. Has this ever been considered?

P.S. , Yoduh: The correct term is 'clubnik'

[Wobbly Bob]

The minutes of the Board meeting that was held on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 are attached below.

[Yoduh]

The Board has no plans to be a non-profit but it has been offered the opportunity from local professionals (lawyers, accountants) but our treasurer doesn't want to deal with it. I on the other hand am willing to, and very interested in gaining nonprofit status for our club. I see it as essential to fueling the growth of our club and our sport.

[coryreu]

Originally Posted by Yoduh

The Board has no plans to be a non-profit but it has been offered the opportunity from local professionals (lawyers, accountants) but our treasurer doesn't want to deal with it. I on the other hand am willing to, and very interested in gaining nonprofit status for our club. I see it as essential to fueling the growth of our club and our sport.

Whereas non-profit status would most certainly be a boon to the club, it seems to me that we need to establish who would oversee the club's non-profit status and maintain it. It takes quite a bit of time and effort to do so as well as a management plan: how active will the board need to be? What will be expected of them? Who will they manage? What are the overhead costs and what is the operating budget? Who files the taxes? Who ensures that the organization is following proper protocol to continue non-profit status? Scrutiny on financial issues is higher for a non-profit and non-compliance can land an organization in a lot of trouble. As in legal trouble. As in Federal legal trouble. Who will be responsible for keeping up on necessary and detailed paperwork? What about creating articles of incorporation? I could go on, but will stop for now.

Time, money, knowledge, and much effort is needed to create and maintain a non-profit. Many people currently involved with the SDGA have committed time and effort not to mention money. Will they then have commit more? If these duties are to fall to the treasurer than I really do not blame him for not wanting to take this on. After all, I am sure we can all agree our treasurer has already gone above and beyond the call in terms of duties, commitment, time, effort and personal financial commitment.

Gaining non-profit status creates legal concerns. Everything must be above board. There is no room for error. None at all. So before bandying about a call for non-profit status, shouldn't we be clear on what it entails and what our future would look like as a non-profit organization? This is a long term ongoing commitment. Think hard.

[LJ Jubner]

Wow "the Corster" was on on a roll.

All the points raised are legit and need addressing before the grant shows. The main concern is how will the club control the funds? Because this info is not currently in the club bylaws That point alone would SNAFU the process from the beginning.

It seems to me that the club needs to add another committee or two to address these issues.
One needs to look at the clubs bylaws and procedures to address all these concerns BEFORE the grant should even be written. The concept of DISPURSEMENT PROTOCOL needs to be paramount

Because I live westside I am offering to help online with this process of drafting the clubs "grant strategy and protocols"

and
I certainly don't blame the Treasurer for not wanting to open yet another can of worms. The position has enough work as it is but in the end does control all the clubs purse strings. I would hate to see another DD situation arise because the club moved too quickly or impulsively disregarding checks and balances the Number 1 axiom for non profits.

Alternative suggestion

Why not approach business's about their promotional budget's?